OK - after reading about some of the other recent audio mods I decided that I needed a little more power... so Monday that 55 is off for some lovin' as follows:

Passport 9500CI remote radar/laser sysem INTEGRATED into the MB information center - this will actually create an additional sub-menu in the computer for the radar and all controls

Alpine Imprint w/ JL Audio summing interface - in order to get, process and transmitt the signal from the Command

Hertz Mille 6.5" components for the doors

Critical mass - 10" thin & light in new fiberglass box on pass-floor

Audison LRX5.1 Amp - 50 to each tweet/160 to each mid and 650 to the sub!

Also, going to have the doors done with Roadkill for a little better sound qualify

And finally, the iPod integration - the CD changer will be removed and the iPod will be fully integrated into the Command...

I am going to give them my digital camera so hopefully I will have some pictures for you. And, yes this is very similar to the install that AMGFan did recently so I want to give him credit for the concept!

D-

Front Radar/Laser Install!!!

Here are the initial pics for the sub

More new pics - the new sub enclosure has been glassed. They "pinged" the wires just be be sure all is good. iPod cable is in the arm rest with a switch to shut it down if a trip to the dealer is ever necessary and finally, that is the "money" shot of them testing the rear laser and the way it would appear on the display...

Valuable information.

Should have the car back on Tuesday. Looking forward to some new sounds!

OK - the car is back! I picked it up last night (in the pouring rain).

Here are some intitial pics of the radar installed.

The 1st picture is the laser detector/jammer under the rear bumper

The 2nd and 3rd picture are the laster detectors/jammers for the front - there is one on each side of the grill

The 3rd is a shot of all the goodies

Here are some more photos of the wiring for the AMP and the Imprint being installed. Also the Hertz in the doors

Very nice I liked the Radar menu showing.

According to the manufactuer - once (and IF) detected the system will respond with its own signal back to the laser gun - they officer would not be able to verify that speed - at least that is how it has been explained to me - I think once saw it in action with the Calibre in my CLK55 - the officer was clearly running a laser trap and when he looked down at the gun - he was shaking his head like he got some error message or bad reading

that is awesome

i am thinking of doing the same in my sl500 and i havent decided whther or not to retain the factory command unit or not

seeing the fact you can wire the laser/ radar through your factory equipment has me very intrigued i wasnt aware that was doable but as i can see it is

it is strange how all the amg guys modify their cars but all the sl500 guys dont.....they all seem to dissmiss the need to modify anything electronics wise

if you dont mind me asking how much did this run you? for install not for audio equipment

also you will love the 9500 it has saved me countless times

I love to mod... this was the first set of serious mods for this car, but there are a couple more planned. I am still trying to get used to the working on the 9500. B/c of the integration you have to use the steering wheel buttons to adjust volume, settings and to mark false alarms. I got the car back last Tuesday and it has aleady had saved me once on Thursday Very happy with it.

I will have to look at my receipt for the install vs. equipment, but it was a couple thousand for the entire install and I would guess that the radar alone was in the $1000 range for labor- they spent about 2 days working on the radar set up - in terms of the building the sensors into the grill, the wiring and so forth. Also, I wanted the rear unit under the bumper and NOT on the license plate as is so common. I just do not like the way it looks up there.

Looking great...we should get together (I live south of Brandon)...I'd love to hear your setup.

Jon

Absolutely. We live in Bradenton.

Did you have to "cap" your alternator or do any other noise prevention work?

I notice a slight whine when using the bluetooth set up.

Finally had the top down yesterday - the system pushes plently of power even at... well a couple miles over the speed limit

I hope I'm not asking this and it is all over the forum in other threads, but how do you integrate the 9500 into the car so the display shows it? Is there additional units needed? are there certain years/models this won't work with?

The unit to integrate the 9500 is made by Mid City Engineering and I think they make a unit for the 9500 and for the Calibre as well. I do not know how the Calibre one works, but I can tell you that integration on the 9500 is very slick.

A couple of miles over the speed limit... Spoken like a true officer of the court LOL. So how the radar working so far? Any issues? Better than the Calibre?

Guilty as charged!!! But it really does make plenty of power - I also like having the 2 settings on the Alpine Imprint processor - 1 for top up and the 2nd for top down which gives little more on the low end

So far I am pretty impressed with the 9500 - seems to false far less than the Calibre did. I really like that it learns the false alarms - apparently after it senses a false 3x then it will automatically reject it in the future - it works off the GPS in the unit - pretty cool stuff

I also like the stealth aspect - but I will say that the audible goes off a few seconds before the display catches up - so if this is an issue... don't integrate.

Also, the adjustments for volume, mute, etc have to be done by pushing various combinations of the steering wheel buttons which takes some getting used to

But so far - I am impressed and it does work since it saved me last week from a radar trap!

Mike...no contest...I have both the calibre and the 9500 (not the integrated one)...I'd take the 9500 each time! I get less false alarms and warning a lot sooner than with the 9500. The GPS portion of my unit is helpful...but getting the 9500 (integrated or mobile unit) with the laser interceptor diffuser would be the way to go...expensive but comprehensive.

I have to admit that this is probably the quietest detector I have ever had - the Calibre would sound off a lot on my way to work and now about about a week with the 9500 - it seems to work flawlessly - very impressed - not sure how it will compare to the Valentine, but with the top-down aspect - I feel the remote set up is the only way to go

ya i have the 9500 in sl my s500 and on my bike

it is the best detector i have owned and i had a valentine forever

critical mass makes good woofers i am probably gonna throw either 1 or 2 of their UL12s in the trunk of my sl they came out of my old truck and i havent decided if 1 will suffice

i was thoroughly unimpressed by the stock audio

im still contemplating on running my 9500 integrated, where do you have the main unit mounted?

o btw the sensors are really sensitive to being level

take some more pictures of the interior

The components are all under the driver's dash.

Are you referring to the laser sensors being level?

There is simply nothing else to see in the interior. The doors were all done with RoadKill and the speakers put back using the stock locations. They have the Bose grill covers over them so all that you can see is there is the iPod cable in the bottom of the armrest.

As for the truck - there is a carpeted pannel over the AMP and the Imprint unit - so there is nothing else to see their either. I will try to get a picture of the truck, but all I have are too large and won't upload

i thought mid-city only did integration for the 2007+ models

My bill says Mid-City and the instructions that I have are for Mid-City... so I am thinking it is Mid-City - but who knows - might be some other company